Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Hammond and Brian H. Donohoe

Thursday 25th April 2013 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Hammond]

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that request. He will know that we have already committed £3 million for improvements at the A414 Clock Tower junction in his constituency in the last round of local pinchpoint funding. I will, of course, be happy to accept an invitation to meet him and his colleagues about the junction on the M11.

[Mr Brian H. Donohoe (Central Ayrshire) (Lab)]

4. What plans he has for road maintenance funding.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Transport (Stephen Hammond)]

The Highways Agency, which is responsible for operating, maintaining and improving the strategic road network in England, has a budget this financial year for some £750 million worth of highways maintenance, excluding the costs associated with private finance initiative projects. The Department is also providing £890 million this financial year to local highway authorities in England for highways maintenance. Funding for highways maintenance in Scotland is a matter for the Scottish Government.

[Mr Donohoe]

Across the whole United Kingdom, potholes are appearing in all our roads because of the cuts taking place. I remember my grandmother telling me, “A stitch in time saves nine.” It is for the Government to start believing that that is a good way forward for the maintenance of our roads. It is costing local government more money in compensation for cars in accidents as a result of potholes than it would for them to repair the roads.

[Stephen Hammond]

I would gently point out that before local authorities start suggesting that the problem is due to cuts in the maintenance budget, they should recognise the more than £3 billion that this Government are giving to maintenance over the life of this Government, the £200 million given in March 2011 for severe weather, and the extra money given at the last autumn statement. The potholes review has published a number of conditions that local councils ought to meet to ensure that they do indeed follow the “stitch in time saves nine” adage from the hon. Gentleman, rather than just putting a band aid solution in place.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Stephen Hammond and Brian H. Donohoe

Thursday 29th November 2012 Commons Chamber

[Stephen Hammond]

I certainly agree with my hon. Friend. He will know that as a result of that meeting I have asked the Highways Agency to conduct a review of the junction’s safety record over the past few years and keep an eye on it over the next six months, and I have agreed to meet him to discuss the matter in the second half of next year.

[Mr Brian H. Donohoe (Central Ayrshire) (Lab)]

One way in which congestion could be greatly reduced would be by having a dedicated police service for the highways? Does the Minister agree?

[Stephen Hammond]

The hon. Gentleman will know that there is already a police service that tackles that—the traffic police—and there are also Highways Agency officers who help with accidents.